Amid an alarming rise in diphtheria cases across Sindh, the World Health Organization (WHO) has donated 500 vials of Diphtheria Antitoxin (DAT) to the province. These vials will be handed over to the Sindh Infectious Diseases Hospital (SIDH) in Karachi today, officials said on Sunday.
The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) has also announced plans to issue a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for importing additional antitoxins within 24 hours, aiming to ensure the timely availability of this critical treatment across the country.
“We have received 500 vials of DAT from WHO, which will be delivered to SIDH Karachi. Efforts are ongoing to procure more DAT through provincial resources to treat diphtheria patients,” an official from the Sindh Health Department confirmed.
The surge in diphtheria cases has placed a significant burden on SIDH Karachi, the only facility in the province currently treating these patients. The hospital has been relying on the Sindh Institute of Child Health and Neonatology (SICHN) for its limited supply of DAT, which is now nearly depleted.
Patients from across Sindh, including Sukkur, Larkana, Nawabshah, Mirpurkhas, Hyderabad, and Karachi, are being referred to SIDH for treatment. The official noted that while trained pediatricians and infectious disease experts are available in other cities, Karachi’s hospitals are bearing the brunt of the rising cases.
A major concern remains the province’s low routine immunization coverage, which health officials say is the primary reason for the resurgence of diphtheria and other preventable diseases. Hundreds of thousands of children have missed their vaccinations, prompting the Sindh Health Department to consider an overhaul of the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI).
DRAP CEO Asim Rauf stated that the agency is ready to issue an NOC for importing more DAT within 24 hours to ensure its availability throughout Pakistan. He also highlighted the need for parents to vaccinate their children and disregard misinformation about vaccines.
So far this year, dozens of children have died from diphtheria in Sindh and Balochistan due to low immunization rates. In Karachi alone, over 100 children have succumbed to the disease. Health experts like Prof. Jamal Raza, Executive Director of SICHN, expressed deep concern over the unprecedented number of cases, suggesting that a new or more invasive strain of diphtheria could be contributing to the surge.
Prof. Raza and other experts are calling for a national investigation into the resurgence, urging health authorities to strengthen immunization efforts and ensure a steady supply of DAT. They also recommend annual vaccination campaigns, early detection training for healthcare workers, and rapid approval for antitoxin imports, particularly in rural areas.
As Pakistan struggles with the resurgence of diphtheria, health authorities are under increasing pressure to address the crisis and prevent further loss of life.
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